"Using inner speech to predict naming treatment outcomes in aphasia", Mackenzie Fama

Lecture in the C-STAR series, delivered by Mackenzie E. Fama, PhD, CCC-SLP (The George Washington University) on May 9th, 2025. Dr. Fama's Aphasia Recovery (FAR) Lab: https://famaaphasiarecoverylab.org Abstract: Using inner speech to predict naming treatment outcomes in aphasia There is growing attention in aphasiology to internal experiences of language among stroke survivors. Prior research (and patient report) suggests that individuals with aphasia can often retrieve words internally even when they cannot say them aloud. In a recent study, we tested whether this experience of “successful inner speech” can predict learning during a cueing-based naming treatment. Five participants in this single-subject design study underwent two weeks of treatment focused on two sets of pictures: those reported as successful or unsuccessful in inner speech prior to treatment. In 4 of 5 participants, treatment was more effective for successful inner speech items vs. unsuccessful inner speech items. In the presentation, we will address individual variability, maintenance of learning, and secondary analyses examining the role of lexical features in predicting treatment outcomes. Overall, our findings add to a growing body of evidence that self-reported inner speech is meaningful among individuals with aphasia and suggest that it may be useful for treatment planning.